Can catapult



P 1965 w. w. SODERMAN 3,207,144

CAN CATAPULT Filed July 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lgL Im 34 I as 42 j I I0 INVENTOR.

a -BY WILLIAM WSODERMAN 133 WWW Sept. 21, 1965 w. w. SODERMAN 3,207,144

CAN CATAPULT Filed July 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 Y I so INVENTOR. WILUAM W. SODERMAN United States Patent 3,207,144 CAN CATAPULT William W. Soderman, 1222 E. Hubhell St., Phoenix, Ariz. Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 294,930 6 Claims. (Cl. 124-21) This invention relates to a catapult device, more particularly, to a catapult device capable of projecting beer cans, or the like, into the air to provide aerial targets for shotgunnery practice.

Heretofore, catapults have been designed for use in projecting clay pigeons and are commonly termed traps. Such traps project circular clay targets from the ground and into the air generally away from or at an angle to a shooter in order to provide shotgunnery practice. In this manner, various traps have been devised to provide for the flight of targets simulating that of game bird leaving the ground.

Normally clay targets are expensive, whereas tin cans are a wasted product and ordinarily may be found in many places out of doors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a catapult device which is particularly adapted to project beer cans or other similar cans into the air to provide a suitable moving aerial target for shotgunnery practice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple and novel catapult device which may readily and easily be cocked and released to load and project cans into the air while a shooter stands at a ready position to shoot at such cans as they pass through the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very novel resilient sling and sear device which may readily and easily be cocked and which is of very simple construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a catapult device utilizing a resilient sling and novel pivoted sear structure having a novel propelling action with relation to a can being projected along the guide rails of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a catapult device particularly designed for projecting cans and which employs a novel flexible cord which may be pulled directly upward from the frame of the device on which the operator stands, thereby permitting the cocking of a very strong resilient sling of the device with a reasonable amount of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very novel slide rail and can guide together with a pivoted sear on the slide rail which affords simplicity and efliciency accurately to project cans into aerial position for shotgunnery practice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of the catapult device in accordance with the present invention, and showing by broken lines a cocked position of the resilient sling of the invention;

FIGv 2 is a side elevational view of the catapult device of the invention, showing by broken lines the resilient sling of the device in a position being withdrawn to cock position and further illustrating pivoted legs of the device in broken lines to indicate a varying position thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a plane similar to that as shown in FIG. 2, but illustrating details of the guide rail, cocking and sear mechanisms;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

3,207,144 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 ice FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 66 of FIG. 1, showing a varying and release position of the sling holding element of the sear mechanisms by broken lines; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the catapult device of the invention showing the forward end thereof elevated into upwardly inclined position and supported by pivoted legs of the frame of the invention so that a can, as indicated by broken lines, may be projected in an inclined path into the air generally simulating the rising path of a game bird as it leaves the ground and takes flight.

As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the catapult device of the invention is provided with a frame plate 10 having transversely disposed frame base members 12 and 14. These base members 12 and 14 are disposed at right angles to the plate 10 and project beyond opposite edges 16 and 18 of the plate 10.

Pivotally connected by means of pins 20 to the base 14 are legs 22 which may be pivoted downwardly into broken line A as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, or into a solid line position B as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawing, for supporting the forward end 24 of the frame plate 10 in an upwardly inclined position to project cans or other missiles upwardly into the air at an inclined angle.

Mounted on the plate 10 is a guard rail structure 26 formed of a single piece of metal rod, and having a looped shaped middle portion 28 secured by a fixture 30 to the plate 10. Opposite ends 32 and 34 extend rearwardly of the plate 10, and are disposed at substantially right angles and extended through upwardly extending tabs 36 and 38 of a bracket 40, which is secured to the plate 10 by means of screws 42. The guide rail structure 26 is thus provided with a pair of spaced rail members 44 and 46 which are held substantially above the plate 10, due to the mounting of the ends 32 and 34 in the bracket 38, and due to an angularly indomitably formed portion 48 of the intermediate portion 28, hereinbefore described. These members 44 and 46 are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to cradle a beer can or other similar missile therebetween and to support such a can forwardly of a sear plate 50 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 52 to a slide bar 54 having bore portions 56 and 58 slidably mounted over the bar portions 44 and 46. The sear plate 50 being pivotally mounted on the pin 52 is thus movable backwardly and forwardly longitudinally of the bars 44 and 46, and fixed to the plate 50 is an eye bolt 60 to which a cord 62 is attached. This cord 62 extends through a pulley 64 fixed at a rear end 66 of the frame plate 10, and secured to an end 68 of the cord 62 is a handle 70. The cord 62 extends between sear mounting brackets 72 and 74 upon which a sear member 76 is pivotally mounted by means of a bolt 78. This sear member 76 is provided with a hook 80 adapted to engage a hook edge 82 of the sear plate 50 when withdrawn to a broken line position C, as indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. A spring 84 connected to the plate 10 at one end; it is connected at its opposite end to the sear 76 tending to hold the hook 80 downwardly, and a stop 86 limits downward movement of the sear 76 in response to tension of the spring 84. Thus the hook portion 80 is maintained at a proper elevation to be moved upwardly on an incline 88 of the sear portion 82 when it is retracted by the cord 62, as will be hereinafter described.

The sear 76 is provided with oppositely extending treadle portions 90 and 92 disposed to be stepped upon by a persons foot to pivot the sear 76 upwardly about the axis of the end 7 8 and to release the sear 80 from the sear edge 82 of the sear member 50, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

Mounted on upstanding posts 94 and 96 at the forward end 24 of the frame plate is a resilient sling 98. This resilient sling is provided with opposite ends 109 and 102 secured to the posts 94 and 96, and an intermediate portion of this sling 98 may be looped around the sear plate '50 when it is moved along the bars 44 and 46 to a position near the forward end 24 of the frame plate 10.

This sling 98 is of resilient natural rubber and, as shown in FIG. 7, an intermediate portion .104 is placed around the back portion of the sear plate 50 while the sear edge 82 of this plate 50 is engaged by the sear hook 80 of the sear member 76. Accordingly, when the catapult device of the invention is in this position, a person may step on the treadle portion 92, thereby causing pivotal movement of the sear 76 upwardly around the axis of the pin 78 to force the sear 76 against tension of the spring 84 and to release the hook 80 from the sear edge 82 of the sear plate '50.

A can, such as a beer can, designated D in FIG. 7 of the drawings, is nested ahead of the sear plate 50, and rests upon and between the bars 44 and 46, whereupon such release of the sears 80 and 82 will cause the resilient sling 98 to project the can as indicated by broken lines E and F progressively into the air and at an upwardly inclined angle simulating the rise of a bird in its flight from the ground.

The legs 22 hold the frame plate in upwardly inclined position, as desired.

When it is desired to cock the catapult of the invention, the median portion 104 of the resilient sling 98 is placed around the plate 50 when in a forward position near the end 24 of the frame plate 10. The operator then stands on the outwardly projected ends of the base plate 12 and pulls upwardly on the handle 68, withdrawing the cord 62, together with the eye 60 and the sear plate 50, along with the slide bar 54, which is then slidably retracted along the rods 44 and 46 until the upper edge sear portion 82 at its incline portion 88 pivots the sear hook 80 upwardly until the spring 84 is able to force the hook 80 downwardly over the edge 82, and thereby hold the plate 50 in fully retracted position against tension of the resilient sling 98. A can then positioned at the location D, as shown in FIG. 7, may be projected as hereinbefore described by stepping on either one of the treadle portions 90 or 92. These treadle portions 90 and 9-2 are conveniently disposed so that the shooter may be at ready position when he steps on either of the treadle portions. At that instant the can is projected into the air simulating the flight of a game bird and the shooter may then enjoy a practice shot which may easily be scored either by sound of the shot hitting the can or by actual marking of the can with the shot pellets.

When it is desired to cause a laterally curved flight of a can after being projected along the bars 44 and 46, the bars are preliminarily deflected laterally as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings. It will be obvious that the bars may be deflected either to the right or the left to attain corresponding curved flight of a can as desired.

The present catapult device is very useful in many areas where cans are to be found in the out of doors, and, thus, a shooter may economically enjoy considerable trap shooting at various convenient locations.

It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

.1. In a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slidable on said firs-t mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite ends fixed to said frame and having a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a sear engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said scars and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said firs-t mentioned bars ahead of said median port-ion of said sling.

2. In a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slid-able on said first mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite ends fixed to said frame and having a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a sear engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said sears and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said first mentioned bars ahead of said median portion of said sling; a cord coupled to said sear plate; a pulley mounted on a normally rear end of said frame; and a cord connected to said sear plate and extending through said pulley for retracting said sear plate longitudinally of said first mentioned bar-s, whereupon the sear edge of said sear plate is engaged by said sear in connection with said treadle for cocking the catapult of the invention.

3. In a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slidable on said first mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite ends fixed to said frame and having a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a sear engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said sears and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said first mentioned bars ahead of said median portion of said sling; a cord coupled to said sear plate; a pulley mounted on a normally rear end of said frame; and a cord connected to said sear plate and extending through said pulley for retracting said sear plate longitudinally of said first mentioned bars, whereupon the sear edge of said sear plate is engaged by said sear in connection with said treadle for cocking the catapult of the invention; said treadle and pivoted sear being pivoted to said frame on a horizontal axis.

4. in a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slidable on said first mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite; ends fixed to said frame and having a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a sear engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said sears and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said first mentioned bars ahead of said median portion of said sling; a cord coupled to said sear plate; a pulley mounted on a normally rear end of said frame; and a cord connected to said sear plate and extending through said pulley for retracting said sear plate longitudinally of said first mentioned bars, whereupon the sear edge of said sear plate is engaged by said sear in connection with said treadle for cocking the catapult of the invent-ion; said treadle and pivoted sear being pivoted to said frame on a horizontal axis; resilient means tending to pivot the sear end of said sear member downwardly and stop means disposed to limit the vertical position of said pivoted sear member; and an incline portion adjacent to the upper edge of said sear plate disposed to elevate the sear portion of said pivoted sear when said sear plate is pulled backwardly by said cord into cock position.

5. In a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slidable on said first mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite ends fixed to said frame and having a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a scar engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said sears and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said first mentioned bars ahead of said median portion of said sling; a cord coupled to said sear plate; a pulley mounted on a normally rear end of said frame; and a cord connected to said sear plate and extending through said pulley for retracting said sear plate longitudinally of said first mentioned bars, whereupon the sear edge of said sear plate is engaged by said sear in connection with said treadle for cocking the catapult of the invention; said treadle and pivoted sear being pivoted to said frame on a horizontal axis; resilient means tending to pivot the sear end of said sear member downwardly and stop means disposed to limit the vertical position of said pivoted sear member; and an incline portion adjacent to the upper edge of said sear plate disposed to elevate the sear portion of said pivoted sear when said sear plate is pulled backwardly by said cord into cock position; pivoted leg means on the forward end of said frame and disposed to hold said frame in incline position relative to the horizontal whereby cans projected upon the median portion of said resilient sling and longitudinally of said first mentioned bars may ascend into the air in an inclined flight path.

6. In a catapult device the combination of: a frame; a pair of guide bars disposed in longitudinally parallel spaced relation to each other on said frame and so spaced to support and hold a can thereon; a slide bar longitudinally slidable on said first mentioned bars; a pivoted sear plate pivotally mounted on said slide bars on a horizontal axis; a resilient sling having its opposite ends fixed to said frame and having .a median portion engageable by said sear plate; an upper edge of said sear plate disposed above a median portion of said sling; a sear engageable with said upper edge of said sear plate; means pivotally mounting said sear on said frame; a treadle portion of said sear disposed to be engaged by a persons foot for releasing said sears and permitting said resilient sling to project said sear plate and said slide bar longitudinally of said first mentioned bars and to project a can longitudinally of said first mentioned bars ahead of said median portion of said sling; said bars in vertically spaced relation with said frame.

No references cited.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CATAPULT DEVICE THE COMBINATION OF: A FRAME A PAIR OF GUIDE BARS DISPOSED IN LONGITUDINALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER ON SAID FRAME AND SO SPACED TO SUPPORT AND HOLD A CAN THEREON; A SLIDE BAR LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE ON SAID FIRST MENTIONED BARS; A PIVOTED SEAR PLATE PITOVALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLIDE BARS ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS; A RESILIENT SLING HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS FIXED TO SAID FRAME AND HAVING A MEDIAN PORTION ENGAGEABLE BY SAID SEAR PLATE; AN UPPER EDGE OF SAID SEAR PLATE DISPOSED ABOVE A MEDIAN PORTION OF SAID SLING; A SEAR ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID SEAR PLATE; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SEAR ON SAID FRAME; A TREADLE PORTION OF SAID SEAR DISPOSED TO BE ENGAGED BY A PERSON''S FOOT FOR RELEASING SAID SEARS AND PERMITTING SAID RESILIENT SLING TO PROJECT SAID SEAR PLATE AND SAID SLIDE BAR LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED BARS AND TO PROJECT A CAN LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED BARS AHEAD OF SAID MEDIAN PORTION OF SAID SLING. 